Sewing-machine.



F. ASHWORTH.

SEWING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27. 1913.

Patented Dec. 4, 191?.

7 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. ASHWORTH.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-2771913.

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F. ASHWORTH. SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27. I913.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917,

ISHEETS-SHEET 3.

F- ASHWORTH.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 27. I913.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

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F. ASHWORTH.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1913.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

7SHEETSSHEET 5.

Z .J M 7 a 26 J F 7 0 6 J F. ASHWORTH.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man JAN.27. 191a.

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FRED ASHWORTH, 0F BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOJR, TO UNITED SHOEMACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSUN, NEJV JERSEY, A CORPOEA'I'ION NEW JERSEY.

SEWING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

lBe it known that I, FRED AsHwoRTH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machihes;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sole sewing machines, and more particularly tosole sewing machines of the so-called McKay type.

Machines of this type comprise a rotatable horn which extends within andsupports the shoe at the sewing point durmg the stitch formingoperation, and a straight hook needle which during each cycle ofoperations of the machine is projected through the sole of the shoe intoposition to receive the thread from a looping device located in the tipof the horn. The work is engaged at the sewing point by the horn, and bya presser foot located on the opposite side of the work, one of which ismovable relatively to the other to accommodate work of varyingthicknesses between them. The movements imparted to the needle duringeach cycle of operations comprise a work penetrating movement duringwhich the needle is projectedthrough the work in position to receive thethread from the looper, followed by a period of substantial dwell togive time for the looper to lay the thread in the barb of the needle,and a retracting move ment during which the loop of thread is drawn bythe needle through the materials 71s therefore essential, in order thatthe and through the preceding loop. It is essential that the relativepositions of the needle and horn which supports the looping device beunvaried at the time the needle is looped in successive cycles ofoperations. In this type of machine the needle, during its retractingstroke, by its backward pull on the loop of thread which it carries,acts to draw the slack out of the thread leading to the preceding loopand thereby tighten the preceding stitch, and to draw off from thesupply sufficient thread to form the stitch. lt

stitches may be formed and tightened in a Specification of LettersJPatent.

Patented Dec 4, T91??? Application filed January 27, 1913. Serial No.744,465.

uniform and reliable manner, that the length of the loop drawn out bythe needle, measured from the lower or inner end of the needle hole, beincreased or decreased upon a change in the thickness of the work, anamount substantially the same as the increase or, decrease in thethickness of the work between successive stitches, or in other words,that the length of the loop of thread drawn out by the needle above thework in forming successive stitches be unvaried, and therefore that theneedle retract substantially the same distance from the work insuccessive cycles of operations, regardless of the thickness of thework. In the most common commercial forms of the McKay type of sewingmachine, the machine is provided with a verticall immovable worksupporting horn and wlth a presser foot, the position of which when thework is engaged between the presser foot and the horn, varies inaccordance with the variations in the thickness of the work. The needleactuating mechanism has a provision for lost motion between two limitingstops, and during the lost motion periods, which occur respectively whenthe needle is at the limit of its stroke in each direction, the needleis held stationary by frictional devices. During the dwell thus producedin the needle movement at the end of the work penetrating stroke of theneedle the thread is laid in the hook of the needle by the looper. Theretracting stroke of the needle is varied in accordance with the changesin the thickness of the work by varying the position of one of thestops, the position of said stop being controlled by the position of thepresser foot as determined by the thickness of the work.

Machines of this type are usually provided with a cast-cit to preventthe fouling of the thread of the previously formed loop in the barb ofthe needle as the needle is retracted out of engagement with the work.The cast-oil" in the commercial machines has usually been actuated intimed relation to the needle from the needle actuating mecha nism by theengagement of abutments on the needle actuating mechanism with abutmentscarried by the cast-ofi' mechanism, and frictional devices have'beenemployed to hold the cast-oft from movement until it is positivelyactuated. Certain mechanisms of the commercial machines, particularlythe mechanisms for actuating and controlling the needle and thecast-off, above briefly described, are open to serious objections, onaccount of the lost power due to the employment of frictional devices,and on account of the excessive pounding vibration and wear on the partsof the machine, especially when the machine is run at high speed.

One object of the present invent1on is to produce an improved solesewing machine of the McKay type which will operate without undue lossof power, and without excessive vibration and wear on the parts, evenwhen the machine is run at high speed.

Another object of the invention is to improve the' construction,arrangement and mode of operation of various parts of the machine,particularly with a view to rendering these parts more certain andreliable in operation.

With these objects in view, certain features of the invention relate tonovel and improved mechanism for actuating the needle. This mechanism isconstructed to produce the required var ations in the needle stroke in acertain and reliable manner while maintaining the needle under positivecontrol throughout its movements, and comprises various novel andadvantaeous constructions and combinations set forth in the followingdescription and pointed out in the claims.

A further featur'eof the invention contemplates the provision ofmechanism for actuating the cast-off in timed relation to the needleconstructed and arranged to control the cast-ofi positively throughoutsubstantially its entire movements. The mechanism' for actuating thecast-oif is preferably independent of the needle actuating mechanism,and the path of the cast-off is varied in accordance with the changes inthe needle stroke through a connection which acts upon a change in therelative position of the presser foot and work support,

as determined by the thickness of the work,

to vary the path of the cast-off.

Other features of the invention consist of novel and improvedconstructions and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, theadvantages of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. I

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of theinvention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the head of a machineembodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the head of themachine; Fig. 3 is a plan of the head of the machine; Fig. 4 is asectional elevation taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig.5 is a detail sectional view illustrating particularly a portion of themechanism. for lifting the presser foot; Fig. 6 is a section taken onthe line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 77 of Fig.5; Fig. 8 is an enlarged front elevation of the head of the machine,showing the positions of the parts when the machine is operating uponthin work, and illustrating the needle in its lowermost position; Fig. 9is a view similar to Fig. 8, illustrating the needle in raised position;Fig. 10 is an enlarged front elevation of the head of the machine,showing the positions of the parts when the machine is operating uponthick work, and illustrating the needle in its lowermost position; andFig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the needle in raisedposition.

Referring to the drawings, the work supporting horn is indicated at 1,and the presser foot cooperating therewith at 2. In the presentembodiment of the invention the horn is vertically immovable, and thepresser foot is arranged for movement with relation to the horn toaccommodate work of varying thicknesses. The presser foot is secured tothe lower end of a presser bar 8 which is arranged to slide verticallyin a suitable guide formed in the lower plate of the head of themachine. A cap or sleeve 4, arranged to slide in a guide in the upperplate of the head of the machine, is secured to the upper end of thepresser bar, and the upper end of the cap is engaged by a coiled spring5 which acts yieldingly to hold the presser foot in engagement with thework. The downward movement of the presser foot when no Work is in themachine is limited by the engagement of the lower end of the sleeve 4with a bracket 6 provided with a perforation through which the presserbar passes, and adjustably secured by screws 7 to the side of themachine frame. The mechanism for lifting the presser foot during eachcycle of operations, to permit the work to be fed, comprises a clampingor locking device to enable the presser foot to be lifted a uniformdistance, regardless of its vertical position. This locking device isillustrated particularly in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, and comprises a nut 8engaging screw threads 9 of steep pitch out on the presser bar, and asplit clamping block 10 surrounding the nut. The nut, when not engagedby the clamping block, is free to turn so that it offers no resistanceto the rising and falling movements of the presser foot. The nut 8 andthe clamping block 10 are supported by a sleeve 11 surrounding thepresser bar, which sleeve is provided with a recess to receive both thenut and the block. The upper end of the sleeve is engaged by a coiledspring 11 surrounding the presser bar, and confined between the upperend of the sleeve and the lower face of the bracket 6. This spring actsto hold the sleeve 11 in its lowermost position with relation to thepresser bar, the downward meagre i movement of the sleeve being limitedby the engagement of its lower end with a portion of the machine frame.In lifting the presser foot the clamping block is first actuated toengage the arms thereof with the nut 8'to clamp the nut and lock thesame from turning movement on the presser bar, and the clamping blockand nut are then lifted to lift the presser foot from the work. Toenable the arms of the clamping block to be relatively actuated to clampthe nut 8,

the ends of these arms projecting rearwardly beyond the nut areconstructed with oppositely inclined outer faces, shown in Fig. 6, andan actuating lever 12 is pivoted on the sleeve -11, said lever beingconstructed in the form of a yoke, the arms of which embrace theclamping block. the lever 12 are provided with inclined surfaces 13 forengagement with the opposite inclined surfaces on the arms of theclamping block. lFhe lever 12 is connected by an adjustable link 14 withthe forwardly eX- tending arm of a bell crank 15 pivoted at 16 on themachine frame, the other arm of which is provided with a cam roll 17which engages a cam groove 18 in a cam disk 19 .mounted on the mainshaft 20 of the mafreely upon the presser bar, and the presser foot tobe engaged with the Work by the action of the coiled spring 5; As thepivotal connection between the link 14 and the lever 12 is movedupwardly, the lever 12 first swings about its pivotal connection with=the sleeve ll, until the inclined surfaces 13 of the lever are engagedwith the opposite inclined surfaces on the arms of the clamping blockand the arms of the clamping block are thereby relatively actuated toen- .gage the nut 8 and lock the same from turning on the presser bar.After the nut has been locked in this manner upon the resser bar, theswinging movement of the ever 12 upon its pivot is limited by theengagement of the lever with the clamping block, and the clamping block,the nut 8,

engages the frame of the machine. this occurs, the lever 12 is swungdown- The arms of shaft 29.

When

wardly about its pivotal connection with the sleeve 11, therebydisengaging the 1nclined surfaces 13 on the lever from the inclinedsurfaces on the arms of the clamping block and allowing the clampingblock toexpand by itsown resiliency and release the-nut 8. The nut isthen free to rotate on the presser bar, and the presser bar and nut arefree to move relatively under the influence of the springs 5 and 11- toaccommodate themselves to any variation in the thickness of the work.The same operation occurs during each cycle of operations of themachine, the presser foot lifting mechanism acting to lift the presserfoot substantially the same distance during each cycle.

In order that the presser foot may be lifted by the operator to permitthe removal andinsertion of the work, a pin 21 is secured to the presserbar, and arranged to project laterally therefrom through a slot in theframe of the machine, and a lever 22 is pivoted on the side of themachine frame .and arranged so that its forwardly projecting end engagesbeneath the pin 21. The lever 22 is connectedwith a treadle rod 23 bwhich the lever 22 is actuated to lift the presser bar. j

The presser-foot mechanism above de scribed is covered in'an application-;Serial No. 69,983, filed January 3, 1916, constituting a division ofthe present application.

The work is fed by means of an awl or feed point 24: mounted in thelower end of an awl or feed bar 25 pivoted at 26 on an extension on thesleeve 1, so that the vertical position-of the awl bar is varied as theposition of the presser foot is varied in accordance with changes in thethickness of the work. The work is fed by the lateral swinging movementsof the aw]. bar on its pivot while the awl is projected into engagementwith the work. The mechanism for imparting the'lateral or feed movementsto the awl barcomprises a link 27 pivotally connected to the awl bar atone extremity, and at the other to an arm 28 mounted on a rock A secondarm 30 is secured to the rock shaft, and is connected by means of a link31 to a. lever 33 pivoted at 34 on the machine frame, and provided witha roll 35 which engages a cam groove36in the cam disk 19'. A bolt andslot connection is provided between the arm 30 and the link 31, so thatthe length of feed may be varied, the slot being made in the form of anare which is struck from the center of the connection tween the link 31and the lever 33 when is parts of the feed'mechanisin are in theposition which they occupy at the beginning of the work feeding stroke.With this construction, the adjustment of the bolt in the slot in thelever will produce variations in the length of feed, while the feedingdevices will always be retracted t6 the same position of the feed.

The feed point or awl is mounted in the feed bar so that it can beprojected into engagement with the work and heldin engagement therewithwhile the work is fed, and so that it can be retracted out of engagementwith the Work during the retracting movement of the feeding devices. Inthe construction illustrated the feed point is provided with ashankwhich is arranged to slide in a suitable guide in the lower end ofthe feed bar, and rack teeth 37 are formed on the shank of the feedpoint, which are engaged by the teeth of a pinion 38 journaled on ashaft 39 mounted in the feed bar. A rack bar 40 is mounted to slidevertically in the lower end of the feed bar, the teeth of which rack barare also in mesh with the teeth of the pinion 38, the width of the teethof the pinion being suflie'ient to engage both the teeth on the shank ofthe feed point and those on the rack bar. A block 41 is mounted on a pinsecured in the upper end of the rack bar, and is received in a recess orslot in the forward end of a lever 42 pivoted at 43 on the link 27, andconnected by a link 44 with an arm 45 mounted on a rock shaft 46. Inorder to actuate the rock shaft 46, an arm 47 is secured thereto andprovided with a roll 48 which engages a cam groove 49 also formed in thecam disk 19. Through the connections described the oscillation of thearm 47 causes the reciprocation of the rack bar 40 in the feed bar,thereby rotating the pinion 38 and causing the feed point to beprojected from the feed bar into engagement with the work and withdrawnfrom engagement with the work. The mechanism for projecting andwithdrawing the feed point with relation to the feed bar is actuated intimed relation to the mechanism for imparting the lateral movements'tothe feed bar, so that the feed point is projected into engagement withthe work while the feed bar is moved laterally to feed the work, and sothat the feed point is withdrawn from engagement with the work when thefeed bar is brought back to its initial position, ready to begin a workfeeding stroke.

The connection between the link 44 and the arm 45 is arranged so that itis substantially in alinement with the axis of the rock shaft 29 whenthe feed point is projected into engagement with the work, with theresult that the movement of the feeding mechanism does not affect theposition of the lever 42 with relation tothe link 27 during the workfeeding movement of the feeding devices, and the position of thefeedpoint with relation to the feed bar is substantially unchanged while thework is being fed.

The work feeding mechanism described above is covered in an applicationSerial No. 69,984, filed January 3, 1916, constituting a division of thepresent application.

The stitch forming devices of the machine comprise a straight hookneedle 46 which during each cycle of operations is projected through thework into position to receive the thread from the whirl or loopingdevice located in the tip of the horn, and which is then retracted todraw the loop of thread through the materials and through the previouslyformed loop, and to draw the slack out of the thread leading to thepreceding loop to tighten the preceding stitch. The needle is mountedupon the lower end of a needle bar 47 mounted to reci rocate inguideways in the upper and lower plates of the head of the machine. Themechanism for actuating the needle comprises a. link 48 pivotallyconnected at 49 with the needle bar, and a second link 50 pivotally.con-' nected at 51 with the outer end of the link 48*. The link 50 ismounted to swing about a supporting pivot 52 carried by a member 53which in turn is mounted to swing about a fixed center or axis 54. Inthe construction illustrated, the member 53 is constructed in the formof ayoke, the arms of which embrace links 48 and 50, and the yoke ispivoted upon studs, one of which is carried by a bracket 55 secured tothe frame of the machine, and the other is mounted in the body of theframe. The pivotal connection 51 between the link 50 and the link 48 isactuated to reciprocate the needle by means of an oscillatory lever 56which is connected with the pivotal connection 51 byv means of a link 57The amplitude of oscillation of the lever 56 is substantially uniformduring successive cycles of operations of the machine, and the movementsof said lever swing the connection 51 in are shaped paths about thepivot 52. The parts above described are constructed and arranged so thatthe shifting of the position of the member 53 about the axis 54 willcause variations in the reciprocatory movements of the needle bar in amanner hereinafter explained. In order that the stroke of the needle maybe varied in accordance with changes in the thickness of the work, themachine is provided with a connection between the member 53 and thepresser bar which acts to swing said member about its axis 54 as theposition of the presser bar is varied by reason of changes in thethickness of the work, said connection consisting of a link 58 pivotedat one extremity to an arm 59 on the member 53, and at the otherextremity pivotally connected with the sleeve 4 by the pin upon whichthe. feed bar is pivoted. When operating upon thin Work the memnaaegreaber 53, through its connection with the presser foot, is caused toassume the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 8 and 9. When the member 53occupiesthis position the connection 51 is swung by the oscillation ofthe lever 56 in a path extending generally in the same direction as thedirection of reciprocation of the needle bar. When the Work-increases inthickness, the presser foot assumes a higher work engaging position, andthe member 53, by reason of its connection with the presser foot, isswung downwardly about the axis 54. The parts of the needle actuatingmechanism are constructed and arranged so that the pivotal connection 51is brought into alinement with the axis 54 at the limit of the downwardstroke of the needle bar. The changes in the position of the member 53caused by changes in the thickness of the work therefore will not affectthe lower limit of the needle stroke. For the sake of clearness intheexplanation of the efiect of the shifting of the position of themember 53 about the axis 54 caused by variations in the position of thepresser foot, due to changes in the thickness of the work upon the upperlimit of the needle stroke, let it be assumed that the lever 56 is atthe limit of its needle bar lifting stroke and is fixed, while themember 53 swings downwardly from the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 8and 9 which it occupies when the machine is operating upon thin work.The downward swinging movement of the member 53 about the axis 54 willact to swing the pivotal connection 51 about the pivotal connection ofthe link 57 with the lever 56. The link 57 and the lever 56 areconstructed and arranged so that this swinging movement of theconnection 51 abput the pivotal connection of the link with the leverwill move the con nection 51 away from the axis 54, and will also liftthe connection 51 vertically. When the member 53 shifts its positiondownwardlyfrom the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 8 and 9, theoscillation of the lever 56 will reciprocate the connection 51 in a pathwhich is angular to the direction of reciprocation of the needle bar. Itwill be evident, therefore,-that the downwardshift in the position ofthemember 53 about the axis 54, caused by an increase in the thickness ofthe work, will cause an increase in the amplitude of movement of theconnection 51, will raise the vertical position of the upper limit ofthe path of said connection, and will cause the connection to swingoutwardly in an angular direction away from the needle bar during itsupward stroke, and that these changes in'the path of the connection 51will produce an increase in the upward stroke of the needle bar. Thelever 56 is mounted upon a rock shaft 60 extending rearwardly from thefront of the machine, and a second arm 61 by a link 62 with an arm 63carried by a sleeve 64 loosely mounted on a shaft 65 which forms part ofthe cast-ofl' actuating mechanism. The sleeve 64 is provided with asecond arm 66 which is connected by means of a pitman 67 with a crank 68carried by the main shaft 20 of the machine. The rotation of the crank68 causes the oscillation of the sleeve 64 on the shaft 65, and theoscillation of the lever 56 which actuates the pivotal connectionbetween the link 48 and the link 50.

The parts of the mechanism above described are soconstructed andarranged that the connection 51 is brought into alinement with thecenter 54 at the limit of the work penetrating stroke of the needle.Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, in which the various parts of the needleactuating mechanism are illustrated in the positions which they assumewhen operating upon thin work, it will be noted that the movement of theoscillatory lever 56 from the position of Fig. 8, with the needle at theend of its work penetrating movement, to the position of Fig. 9 toretract the needle, acts to swing the pivotal connection 51 about thepivot 52, thereby lifting the outer end of the link 48 to raise theneedle bar. The position of'the member 53 as determined by theconnection 58 between the said member and the presser foot is such whenoperating upon thin work that the pivotal connection 51 swings in a pathwhich has the same general direction as the direction of reciprocationof the needle.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11, in which the parts of the needleactuating mechanism are shown in the positions which they occupy whenoperating upon thick work, it will be noted that the position of themember 53 is changed from the position which it assumed when operatingupon thin work, on account of the raised position of the presser foot,due to the presence of thick work between the presser foot and the horn.This change in the position of the presser foot has caused the member 53to swing downwardly about the fixed center 54, thereby lowering theposition of the pivot 52 on which the link 50 swings. Onaccount of thearrangement of the parts, so that the connection 51 is brought intoalinement with the center 54 at the limit of the work penetrating strokeof the needle, the swinging of the member 53 about the center 54 causesno variation in the lower limit of the needle stroke. During themovement, however, of

is attached to said rock shaft and connected the oscillatory lever 56from the position member 53, the connection 51, instead of moving in apath substantially parallel with the direction of reciprocation of theneedle bar, is swung in an angular direction with relation to thedirection of reciprocation of the needle bar, so that said connectionswings away from the needle bar during its needle bar lifting stroke,the amplitude of movement of the connection 51 is increased, and theconnection is lifted to a higher position at the end of its needle barlifting stroke.

The upward stroke of the needle bar will therefore be increased tocorrespond with the increase in the thickness of the work.

It will be understood without further explanation that in the needleactuating mechanism described a decrease in the thickness of the workwill produce a corresponding decrease in the upward stroke of the needlebar, and that the extent of the variations in the upward stroke of theneedle bar will de pend upon the extent of the variations in thethickness of the work.

The dwell in the movement of the needle when the needle has penetratedthe work and has arrived in position to receive the thread from thelooper is produced by arranging the parts so that the crank 68 issubstantially at dead center with relation to the point of connection ofthe pitman 67 with the arm 66, and so that the point of connection ofthe link 62v with the arm 63 is approximately at dead center withrelation to the point of connection of saidlink with the arm 61 when theneedle approaches the end of its work penetrating movement. It is to benoted that the needle actuating mechanism described is constructed to,produce the required variations in the stroke of the needle in a certainand reliable manner while the needle is maintained under positivecontrol throughout its movements, and that the connections between therelatively movable parts of said mechanism are pivotal connections. Theneedle actuating mechanism therefore operates without undue vibration,friction or wear on the parts of the machine, even when the machine isrun at high speed. r

The cast-off for preventing the fouling of the thread of the previouslyformed loop in the barb of the needle as the needle retracts out ofengagement with the work, is indicated at 69. The cast-ofi' is securedto the end of a cast-ofi' bar 69. which is dove-tailed in cross-section,and is arranged to slide in a suitably formed dove-tailed groove in thelower plate of the head of the machine. The cast-ofi' actuatingmechanism comprises a toggle consisting of pivotally connected links 70and 71, of which the link 70 is connected with the u per end of thecast-off bar, and the link 1 is pivotally connected with an extension 72formed on the sleeve 4 attached to the presser bar. The central joint ofthe toggle is recipro'cated to actuate the cast-off in timed relation tothe needle through a link 73 pivotally connected at 7% with the toggle,and at 75 with an arm 7 6 attached to the rock shaft 65. A second 'arm78 is attached to the rock shaft 65,

and is connected by an eccentric strap and pitman 79 with an eccentric80 mounted on the main shaft 20 of the machine. The pin or screw 81,which connects the member 70 of the toggle with the cast-off bar, isprovided with a portion considerably smaller than the aperture in thelink 70 through which the pin passes, and a leaf spring 82 is mounted onthe link 70 and arranged to engage the upper end of the cast-oif bar,thereby allowing the cast-off to yield slightly when brought intoengagement with the work. The cast-ofi' actuating mechanism is timedwith relation to the mechanism for actuating the needle to actuate thecast-off in timed relation to the needle in substantially the samemanner in which it is actuated in the present commercial machines.

The connection between the cast-off mechanisin and the presser foot barcauses a variation in the path of the cast-off to correspond withvariations in the needle stroke produced by variations in the positionof the presser foot. The cast-off mechanism above described isconstructed to control the castoff positively through substantially itsentire movements, thereby avoiding many disadvantages inherent in thecast-off mechanisms heretofore employed. The connection between the link70 and the cast-off bar permits the cast-off to yield slightly whenbrought into engagement with the work, preventing the cast-off frombeing forced into the work, and from enlarging the mouth of the hole inthe work punctured by the needle.

It is to be understood that except as defined in the claims theinvention is not limited to any particular machine or type of machine,or to any particular construction and arrangement of parts of theillustrated embodiment, but that the invention may be embodied in anyform within the scope of the claims.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention, and havingspecifically described a machine embodying the same in its preferredform, what is claimed is 2- 1. A sewing machine, having, in combination,a needle, a needle bar, mechanism for actuating the needle comprising alink pivotally connected to the needle bar, means to swing the outer endof the link in the arc of a circle to reciprocate the needle, a worksupport, a presser foot, and means to vary the path of the outer end ofsaid link angularly with relation to the direction of reciprocation ofthe needle bar upon a change in the relative positions of the worksupport and presser foot due to a change in the thickness of the work tovary one of the limits of the needle stroke.

2. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, mechanism foractuating the needle. comprising pivotally connected links, one of whichis pivotally connected directly to the needle bar, asupporting pivot forthe other of said links, means to swing the pivotal connection of thelinks about said supporting pivot to reciprocate the needle, awork'support, a presser foot, and means to vary the position of saidsupporting pivot upon a change in the relative positions of the worksupport and presser foot due to a change in the thickness of the work tovary the path of the pivotal connection between the links and therebyvary one of the limits of the needle stroke.

3. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, a needle bar,mechanism for actuating the needle comprising pivotally connected links,one of which is pivotally connected directly to the needle bar, asupporting pivot for the other of said links, means to swing the pivotalconnection of the links about the supporting pivot to reciprocate theneedle, a work support, a presser foot, and means to swing thesupporting pivot about a fiXed axis upon a change in the relativepositions of the work support and presser foot due to a change in thethickness of the work to vary one of the limits of the needle stroke.

-l. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, a needle bar,mechanism for actuating the needle comprising pivotally connected links,a connection between one of the links and the needle bar, a supportingpivot for the other of the links,

. means to swing the pivotal connection of the links about thesupporting pivot to reciprocate the needle, a work support, a presserfoot, and means to swing the supporting pivot about a fixed axissubstantially coincident with the pivotal connection of the links at oneof the limits of the needle stroke upon a change in the relativepositions of the'work support and presser toot due to a change in thethickness of the work to vary the other limit of the needle stroke.

5. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, a needle bar,mechanism for actuating the needle comprising pivotally connected links,one of which is pivotally connected directly to the needle bar, anoscillatory lever, a pivotal connection between the other link and theoscillatory lever, a work support, a presser foot, and a connection forcontrolling the path of the pivotal connection between said links actingupon a change in the relative position of the work support and presserfoot due to a change in the thickness of the work to vary the path ofsaid connection to vary one of the limits of the needle stroke.

6. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, a needle bar,mechanism for actuating the needle comprising pivotally connected links,one of which is pivotally connected directly to the needle bar, anoscillatory lever, a pivotal connection between the other link and theoscillatory lever, a work support, a presser foot, and a connection forcontrolling the path of the pivotal. connection between said linksacting. upon a change in the relative positions of the work support andpresser foot due to a change in the thickness of the work to swing thepivotal connection between the links about the pivotal connection withthe oscillatory lever to vary one. of the limits of the needle stroke.

7. A sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, a needle bar,mechanism for actuating the needle coniprising a link pivotallyconnected with the needle bar, a second link pivotally connected withthe first link, a supporting pivot for the second link, a member onwhich the supporting pivot is carried mounted to swing about a fixedaxis, means to swing the pivotal connection between the links about thesupporting pivot of the second link to reciprocate the needle bar, and aconnect-ion between said member and the presser foot for swinging saidmember about its axis upon a change in the relative positions of thework support and the presser foot due to a change in the thickness ofthe work to vary the position of the supporting pivot and thereby varyone of the limits of the needle stroke. a

8. A shoe sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, mechanismfor actuating the needle,,,a cast-off for the needle, mechanism foractuating the cast-oi" in timed relation to the needle acting tomaintain the cast-ofi' under positive control throughout substantiallyits entire movements and a connection for varying the path of thecast-oft in accordance with changes in tne stroke. of the needle.

9. A shoe sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, mechanismfor actuating the needle, a cast-off for the needle, and mechanism foractuating the cast-off in timed relation to the needle comprising atoggle, a pivotal connection between one member of the toggle and thecast-oft, and means to reciprocate the central joint of the toggle.

10. A shoe sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, mechanismfor actuating the needle arranged to vary the stroke of the needle inaccordance with changes in the thickness of the work, and meansindependent of the needle for actuating the cast-oft" in timed relationto the needle, comprising a connection for varying the path of thecast-off in accordance with changes in the stroke of the needle.

11. A shoe sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, mechanismfor actuating the needle arranged to vary the stroke of the needle inaccordance with changes in the thickness of the work, a cast-off for theneedle, and means for actuating the cast-ofii in timed relation to theneedle acting to maintain the cast-off under positive control throughoutsubstantially its entire movements, and comprising a connection forvarying the path of the cast-ofi' in accordance with changes in thestroke of the needle.

12. A shoe sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, mechanismfor actuating the needle arranged to vary the retracting stroke of theneedle in accordance with changes in the thickness of the work, a worksupport, a presser foot, a cast-off for the needle, and means foractuating the cast-off in timed relation to the needle comprising aconnection between the presser foot and the cast-off mechanism actingupon a change in th position of the presser foot due to a change in thethickness of the work to vary the path of the cast-off.

13. A shoe sewing machine, having, in combination, a needle, mechanismfor act-uating the needle arranged to vary the retracting stroke of theneedle in accordance with changes in the thickness of the work, a worksupport, a presser foot, a cast-ofi' for the needle, means for actuatingthe cast-ofi' comprising a toggle, a connection between one member ofthe toggle and the cast-ofi', a connection between the other member ofthe toggle and the presser foot for varying the position of the toggleand thereby varying the position of the cast-ofi' in accordance withchanges in the position of the presser foot due to variations in thethickness of the work, and means to reciprocate the central joint of thetoggle to actuate the castoii in timed relation to the needle.

FRED ASHVVORTH. \Vitnesses CHESTER E. Romans, RUTH E. \VARD.

